WJFF

WJFF
City Jeffersonville, New York
Broadcast area Catskill Mountains
Branding Radio Catskill
Frequency 90.5 MHz
Translator(s) 94.5 MHz, W233AH Monticello, New York
First air date February 12, 1990
Format Community Radio
ERP 3,700 watts
HAAT 192.0 meters
Class B1
Facility ID 54516
Transmitter coordinates 41°48′58.66″N 74°47′13.776″W / 41.8162944°N 74.78716000°W / 41.8162944; -74.78716000
Callsign meaning JeFFersonville
Affiliations American Public Media, National Public Radio, Public Radio International, Pacifica Radio
Owner Radio Catskill, Inc.
Webcast listen live
Website wjffradio.org

WJFF (90.5 WJFF) is a public radio station broadcasting at 90.5 MHz, licensed to Jeffersonville, New York and transmits from a tower approximately two miles west of Liberty, New York[1] It is perhaps the nation's only hydropowered radio station. The power for the station's studios and offices are drawn from a dam 50 feet away adjacent to Lake Jefferson.[2]

History

In 1984, Malcolm Brown purchased the Lake Jefferson dam (41°46′40.19″N 74°55′30.6294″W / 41.7778306°N 74.925174833°W / 41.7778306; -74.925174833) and power house and began to repair the hydro plant which was originally constructed in 1927. In 1986, the hydro plant was placed in service, generating enough power to supply 20-25 area homes.

In January 1988, Catskill Radio, Inc., also owned by Malcolm Brown, received a Construction Permit for WJFF. The radio station's studio building was built on the north side of the Jefferson Lake dam, about 50 feet away from the generator house. The station was completed by mostly volunteer labor, signing on for the first time on January 20, 1990. Initially the station transmitted with a power of 830 watts, this was increased to 3,700 watts in early 1996.[3]

1996 was also the year that Catskill Radio Inc. applied for and received authorization to build its Monticello, NY translator, W233AH.[4]

Since 2000, the Lake Jefferson Dam has survived numerous severe floods and still provides all of the power to run WJFF with the excess being sold to NYSEG, the local power company. In 2005, the dam and generating equipment were sold to Kevin and Barbra Gref, who continue to operate it.

The transmitter site is located on a hill approximately six miles east of the studios and is powered conventionally by commercial electrical service.

Programming

The station features a variety of classical music, jazz, public affairs and news programming during the day, with locally produced programs in the early afternoons and evenings. Its schedule maintains a balance between eclectic community radio and NPR affiliate programming, with a smattering of shows from Pacifica Radio, the BBC and the CBC. BBC programming is now broadcast in the early morning hours, if there is no local programming on air at the time.

Translators

In addition to the main station, WJFF is relayed by an additional translator to widen its broadcast area.

Call sign Frequency
(MHz)
City of license ERP
W
Class FCC info
W233AH 94.5 Monticello, New York 9 D FCC

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.